Could anyone tell me more about these calibre's and there performance particulary in the Marlin 1894 c lever rifle ???

Basically im looking for a "fun" fox rifle out to 200 MAX mostly 10-100 yards. I really like the Marlin lever actions, i "NEED" a fox rifle and im wondering if i can use this as an excuse to buy another Marlin !!

Balistic's with the standard 46 gn HP looks better than my old Hornet with 45gn sp.....So i guessing that loaded with 40gn Noslers (one in mag one in chamber) it could be impressive indeed??

Would value any experience of these rifle's

Englander

Sorry, can't help you with the rifles but I do have about ten years experience with the .218 Mashburn Bee in a Browning reproduction of the Winchester Model 65 and more recently a Ruger #1 chambered for the same if that may help. Absolutely impressed with the little over-achiever. The lever action gets a 45gr Sierra soft point Hornet bullet over a stout load of IMR 4227 and produces accuracy better than I need or can shoot on coyotes out to 150 yds. The Ruger is used specifically in the anti-prairie dog mission and uses fancy semi-custom varmint bullets from Starke. The biggest problem I have with that rifle is suppressing the urge to engage targets at too long a distance. 225yds is max for acceptable consistency.

Tom~ Thanks for the reply,Can I ask if you have dabbled with either 35 gn or 50 gn bullets in your Mashburn ???

Do you think 35 gn V-max would handle Red fox ?? or would I be better off sticking to 45 gn or even stepping up to 50 gn.

Englander

Tried the 35gr in both rifles and couldn't achieve anywhere near the accuracy required. Have used 50gr bullets in the Ruger with fair results but went back to the 45gr bullets as the best tradeoffs with speed, BC, and accuracy. You may be limited in the weight range of bullets you can use by the twist of the barrel. In a 1 in 16 twist rifles I was not very successful with any weight greater than 45-46gr. A 1 in 14 twist will work well with bullets of greater weight.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Englander:
[QB]Tom~ Thanks for the reply,Can I ask if you have dabbled with either 35 gn or 50 gn bullets in your Mashburn ???

Do you think 35 gn V-max would handle Red fox ?? or would I be better off sticking to 45 gn or even stepping up to 50 gn.

I have used the .218 Mashburn for years in a Winchester Low Wall. I use a 50gr Blitz and a casefull of IMR 4198 for 3000fps. Kills coyotes to 200yds.